Neighbors Wake Elderly Couple After Fire Breaks Out in Their Attic

UPDATE (JUNE 8): The fire that left two elderly Salem residents injured last week was reportedly due to an electrical problem in the home, according to the Eagle Tribune.

Herbert Herron, 84, and Barbara Herron, 74, were both rescued from their Ackerman Street home by a pair of individuals – Officer Connor Nolan and neighbor Nick Aslup.

An Earlier Story Follows:

A pair of elderly residents were woken up by neighbors after the couple's Ackerman Street home caught fire early Tuesday morning, according to the Salem Fire Department.

Salem Fire Chief of Operations Paul Parisi said units responded to the blaze at 11 Ackerman Street just before 3 a.m.

A resident from 10 Ackerman Street reported he and his wife waking up to the smell of smoke, and when they investigated saw fire across the street.

At that time, the neighbors raced across the street to wake up the elderly couple in the home. Assessing records list Herbert and Mary Herron as occupants of the 11 Ackerman Street residence.

First responding units found a fire quickly spreading to the attic of the split level home, according to Parisi.

"The companies aggressively entered the house and ,with hose lines in place, opened up the ceiling of the kitchen to find the attic well involving in fire," he said in the release. "They were able to begin extinguishing the fire while simultaneously searching for any victims that might still be in the house.

The elderly residents were transported to Parkland Medical Center for evaluation.

No firefighters were injured and units were able to clear the scene at 4:31 a.m.

The home suffered significant fire damage to the attic as well as smoke and water damage throughout.

Mutual aid was received from Methuen, Windham and Derry Fire Departments.

The fire is under investigtation by Salem Fire Marshal Jeff Emanuelson, but is not considered suspicious.